These decisions should not be between a person who needs health care and the government and politicians. It should be between a woman and her doctor, that is the ultimate goal right there. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs yesterday highlighting her Executive Orders to prevent abortionrelated prosecutions as her state is now at the center of the fight for reproductive care. Well have the latest on efforts to repeal that states controversial abortion ban in just a moment. Also ahead, Donald TrumpsHush Money Trial is still on track to start on monday, and now were learning who may take the witness stand. And well look back on the life of o. J. Simpson, one of the most divisive figures in modern american history. Good morning and welcome to Way Too Early on this friday, april 12th. Im jonathan lemire. We made it to friday. Thanks for starting your day with us. We will begin here with this headline. The first criminal trial of a former american president is set to get under way on monday. This is history around the corner. Despite repeated attempts by Donald Trumps legal team to delay the proceedings, Jury Selection in the Hush Money Case will begin in a manhattan courtroom. The trial will center on allegations that trump try today conceal payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in an effort to cover up an affair that would have been damaging during that years election. Nbc news has obtained a list of potential prosecution witnesses. It includes Stormy Daniels as well as former trump fixer michael cohen. Former trump spokesperson hope hicks could also be among those called. Prosecutors say she was on phone calls with trump and cohen around the time of the payments. The list also includes several former Trump Organization employees. Donald trump could potentially take the stands in his own defense at some point during the trial, estimated to take about 6 weeks or so. Well have much more on this later in the show. To politics now. Vice president Kamala HarrisWill Travel To Arizona today just three days after that States Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 law criminalizing nearly all abortions can indeed be enforced. While in arizona the Vice President is expected to underscore the stakes of the 2024 election for Abortion Health care and reproductive freedom. Harris is also expected to emphasize that tuesdays ruling by arizonas high court was made possible by former president donald trump. Earlier this week trump bragged he was proudly the person responsible for overturning roe v. Wade, which opened the door to Abortion Health care bans in several states across the country including now arizona. Yesterday the bidenharris Reelection Team announced a new paid media blitz including an additional sevenfigure investment this month targeting the state of arizona and key voters focused on abortion rights. Meanwhile, Arizona RepublicanSenate Candidate kari lake has made calls to State Lawmakers in an effort to repeal this abortion ban. Thats according to a republican legislator who told nbc news they received a call from lake. On wednesday the gopcontrolled House Shutdown Discussion on a proposal to overturn the law. Lawmakers will not meet again until next wednesday. In the wake of this weeks ruling, lake has flipflopped on the issue and is now trying to project a more moderate stance. This total ban on abortion that the arizona Supreme Court just ruled on is out of line with where the people of this state are. The issue is less about banning abortion and more about saving babies. I agree with President Trump, this is such a personal and private issue. I chose life, but im not every woman. I want to make sure that every woman who finds herself pregnant has more choices so that she can make that choice that i made. Lake using her trademark soft filter in that new ad. Just to be clear thats not at all what she was saying two years ago when she was running for governor. Lake said then she totally opposed abortion, abortion pills, and called the 1864 statute a great law. Elsewhere in politics House Speaker mike johnson will meet with former President Trump today at his maralago estate. The two are expected today deliver a joint Press Conference, though lets be clear we dont know if theyll take questions. The subject Election Integrity. This meeting at maralago comes as johnson is struggling to get his party to rally around a legislative agenda, one that trump has been helping to undermine. Johnson is also facing threats of being ousted by georgia representative Marjorie Taylor greene and a few other far right wingers. The Biden Campaign released this statement ahead of todays meeting writing in part, the American People do not need to hear a lecture on Election Integrity from two men who tried to overturn the 2020 election. It should come as no surprise that two losers, one trying to keep his job, one trying to get his old job, are teaming up to spread lies and misinformation. Joining us now politics editor for bloomberg news, laura davidson. Good to see you this morning. Youve been following this meeting today between trump and johnson at maralago. It comes as we note when johnsons hold on his job is tenuous. Donald trump didnt save him. Two parter here. First of all, tell us where the trumpjohnson dynamic is like in terms of speakership. But also what do we think were going to hear from them today . This is transactional politics at its finest. Trumps team is not pleased by these efforts to try to oust johnson from his job. They just think itll bring chaos and distract in a president ial election year, and they dont want to go through what happened last october when mccarthy was ousted and it was several weeks of republicans fighting amongst themselves to try to find a leader. Trump also gets something out of this. He gets to bring johnson down there, remind him, he, himself, trump is the top guy in the party and remind him of his Policy Positions which differ on different things, on abortion, on ukraine aid and fisa, which a procedural vote failed yesterday. This is really both men getting to to get their Political Goals met here. What this looks like is interesting, and they are expected to talk about this legislation to move forward that would ban noncitizens from voting. Ill note noncitizens are already barred from voting in the u. S. , but that will be the political story they can go out and potentially take questions and if they do, expect there to be lots of questions on abortions particularly after the arizona ruling this week. Thank you for that fact check and the meeting here, the timing is such many people on the hill think next week could be makeorbreak for ukraine aid funtding. Im sure trump will try to influence johnson on that today. Everything is shadowed by abortion. He heads to pennsylvania tomorrow, where hell attend a fundraiser and hold a rally. He hasnt had too many of late. Pennsylvania obviously a key battleground this time around. How does the campaign feel about the state they won in16 . Pennsylvania is one of the states in michigan and wic, this blue wall where biden has been doing better in the polls most recently. Its no surprise trump is going there to remind voters about himself. Its very noteworthy the Biden Campaign has been very organized and deliberate about opening Field Offices and kind of getting their ground operation setup, while trump is far behind on that. Hes spending more time trying to raise money, recommending more Money Raising money while biden is spending money on the ground trying to convince to raise money for voters. Your latest piece for bloomberg carries this headline. Trump allies are losing their luster as a key campaign tool. Its so striking. These rallies are frankly a political phenomenon of the last decade or so in terms of whooping up enthusiasm, also collecting data. Why are they less effective this time around . Yeah, so weve really seen a shift in what these rallies were. In 16 an 20 they were a novelty. We saw a big bump in fundraising a week orsy around the rally. That is not so this cycle. That fundraising bump is essentially gone. Really when trump sees more Online Fundraising come in around key dates in his trials, in his court cases, so the rallies just arent having the same effect. It has this more feel of groupies, the same people show up time and time again, so the campaign is picking smaller venues, theyre spending less money on these because theyre realizing theyre not getting what they were four or eight years ago. We can if that changes as the general election kicks up. Youre right hes having far fewer of them because theyre too expensive as the Campaign Struggles with funds. Politics reporter for bloomberg, laura, thank you. Still ahead on Way Too Early, oj simpson, the former nfl ledge nld acquitted of Double Murder in a case that captivated the nation has died. What his family is saying about his final moments and reaction split reaction across the country to his death. Plus donald trump has repeatedly said he wants to repeal the Affordable Care act. Well take a look at what he is now saying amid new attacks from the Biden Campaign. Those stories and a check on sports and the weekend Weather Forecast when we come right back. Weather forecast when we come right back with powerful, easytouse tools, power e trade makes complex trading easier. React to fastmoving markets with dynamic charting and a Futures Ladder that lets you place, flatten, or reverse orders so you wont miss an opportunity. E trade from morgan stanley. When you have chronic kidney disease, there are places youd like to be. Like here. And here. Not so much here. Farxiga reduces the risk of Kidney Failure which can lead to dialysis. Farxiga farxiga can cause serious side effects, including ketoacidosis that may be fatal, dehydration, Urinary Tract or genital Yeast Infections and low blood sugar. A rare, lifethreatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. Stop taking farxiga and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this infection, an allergic reaction, or ketoacidosis. When you have chronic kidney disease, its time to ask your doctor for farxiga. Because there are places you want to be. If you cant afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. Farxiga 3, 4 hey are you ready for me are you ready are you ready welcome back. O. J. Simpson, the former nfl star who was acquitted of murdering his exwife and her friend in a trial that gripped the nation has died following a battle with cancer. Nbc news Senior Investigative and Legal CorrespondentCynthia Mcfadden has more. Reporter the trial of the century and the death of the man at the center, o. J. Simpson, brings back the long les of a trial that concluded nearly 30 years ago. We just, in the above entitled action find the defendant orrinthal James Simpson not guilty of the crime of murder. Reporter that not guilty verdict in the brutal murders of his former wife and mother of two children Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, reverberated around the country met by outrage by many who believe he was guilty and there was a mountain of evidence that proved it. When this prosecution came, we didnt lose today. I deeply believe this country lost today. Justice was not served. While many in Black America cheered what they saw as justice so often denied in their community finally done. The nation had been captivated just five days after the murders on friday night when 95 million tv viewers watched as simpson in a white bronco driven by a former teammate led officers on an hours long low speed chase reportedly holding a gun to his own head. He had been charged with two counts of homicide. Reporter finally, he surrendered to police. Within months, simpson went to trial, which was broadcast daily, much of the public following each days testimony. Judging the evidence in the eightmonth trial for themselves. I did not, could not, and would not have committed this crime. Reporter the trial highlighted many of the fractures in the countrys legal system bringing together celebrities, rapes, and the power of money. The defense dubbed the dream team was made up of Super Lawyers who were able to undermine the states Scientific Evidence while also capturing the jurys attention with their mastery of courtroom theatrics. If it doesnt fit, you must acquit. Reporter and the jury did acquit, a man who until the trial had led what appeared to be an accomplished life. He rose from poverty becoming one of the greatest Football Players to ever play the game. A college star at usc, Heisman Trophy winner, and record setting player with the buffalo bills. He became known as the juice yates. He went onto star in commercials and television and movies. And while he was acquitted of murder, his life afterwards spiralled downward. In a civil lawsuit he was ordered to pay over 33 million to the victims families. Most of that debt left unpaid. He returned to court multiple times over the next several years to travel violations, even pirating cable tv. But it was in 2008 simpson said he was taking back personal stolen property that ultimately sent him to prison. Count one, conspiracy to commit a crime, guilty. Reporter he served nine years. He died in 76 from cancer. His family said he was surrounded by his children and grand children. Fred goldman, ron goldmans father, did not mince words. Its no great loss to the world. Its a further reminder of wrongs being gone. Our thanks to nbcs Cynthia Mcfadden for her reporting. Meanwhile, after eight years of vowing to repeal the Affordable Care act without offering a viable replacement plan, donald trump now says he only wants to make obamacare better. In a video posted to truth social yesterday trump claimed President Biden is misrepresenting his position on the plan representing 40 million americans. Take a look. Im not running to terminate the aca as Crooked Joe Biden says all over the place. Im running to close the border, stop inflation, make our economy great, strengthen our military, and make the aca or obamacare as its sometimes known much better, stronger, and far less expensive because its much too expensive now, and its not very good. Despite trumps claims there as recently as november he wrote on social media that he was looking at alternatives to the aca, and he bemoaned the failure of a 2017 senate vote to repeal it. We should also point out in his video yesterday, trump said Terminating Obamacare was not his reason for running, but not that he wouldnt do it if he is reelected. And a quick note before we go to break, my book, the big lie an instant the New York Times bestseller will be out in paper back with new material that traces how election lies, those 2020 election lies have come to dominate the Republican Party and will dictate Donald Trumps political and legal future and shape the outcome of this years election. New material there. Well talk more about the book as that release date approaches may 7th for the paper back. As always appreciate you reading. Still ahead here, well turn to sports with highlights from the start of the masters. Plus federal prosecutors reveal stunning Details Behind the arrests of the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Those stories and a look at the weekend forecast when we come right back. A ok at the weekend forecast when we come right back you didnt live this strong, this long to get put on the shelf like a porcelain doll. If you have postmenopausal osteoporosis and are at high risk for fracture, you can build new bone with evenity®. Ask your doctor if you can do more than just slowing down bone loss with evenity®. Want stronger bones . Then build new bone; evenity® can help in just 12 months. Evenity® is proven to reduce Spine Fracture Risk by 73 . Evenity® can increase risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from a cardiovascular problem. Do